Nanocomposite Battery Electrode Particles for Volume-Change Stability

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional battery electrodes face challenges such as cell degradation due to volume changes and low conductivity in high-capacity materials, leading to mechanical and electrical degradation, especially in lithium-ion batteries, where materials like silicon and metal fluorides experience significant volume changes during charging and discharging.

Innovation Solution

The development of composite battery electrode particles comprising a high-capacity active material and a porous, electrically conductive scaffolding matrix material, where the active material is disposed within the pores of the matrix, allowing for volume changes without causing composite particle fractures, and a protective shell can be used to prevent undesirable interactions with the electrolyte.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If high-capacity active materials (such as silicon, germanium, tin, metal fluorides) are used to increase energy density, then volumetric capacity is improved, but volume changes during ion insertion/extraction cause mechanical degradation and cell degradation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevolumetric capacityVSAvoidcell degradation

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies this principle by coating active material particles with a flexible carbon-containing polymer shell that can accommodate volume changes during lithium insertion and extraction. The shell acts as a protective layer that prevents mechanical degradation while allowing the high-capacity active materials to expand and contract without causing cell degradation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates composite structures by combining high-capacity active materials (silicon, germanium, tin, metal fluorides) with a carbon-containing polymer matrix. This composite approach allows the active materials to provide high volumetric capacity while the polymer matrix provides mechanical stability and prevents degradation during cycling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Quantity of substance

If high-capacity active materials are used to increase energy density, then volumetric capacity is improved, but electrical conductivity remains low leading to low power performance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevolumetric capacityVSAvoidpower performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates composite structures by combining high-capacity active materials (silicon, germanium, tin, metal fluorides) with a carbon-containing polymer matrix. This composite approach allows the active materials to provide high volumetric capacity while the polymer matrix provides mechanical stability and prevents degradation during cycling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies this principle by coating active material particles with a flexible carbon-containing polymer shell that can accommodate volume changes during lithium insertion and extraction. The shell acts as a protective layer that prevents mechanical degradation while allowing the high-capacity active materials to expand and contract without causing cell degradation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Quantity of substance

If conversion-type cathode materials and alloying-type anode materials are used to achieve high capacity, then energy storage ability is improved, but volume changes cause mechanical and electrical degradation in electrodes

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecapacityVSAvoidmechanical degradation

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies this principle by coating active material particles with a flexible carbon-containing polymer shell that can accommodate volume changes during lithium insertion and extraction. The shell acts as a protective layer that prevents mechanical degradation while allowing the high-capacity active materials to expand and contract without causing cell degradation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates composite structures by combining high-capacity active materials (silicon, germanium, tin, metal fluorides) with a carbon-containing polymer matrix. This composite approach allows the active materials to provide high volumetric capacity while the polymer matrix provides mechanical stability and prevents degradation during cycling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

4Quantity of substance

If materials with high volumetric capacity are used to improve energy density, then ion-storage ability per unit volume is improved, but volume changes during operation result in cell degradation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveion-storage ability per unit volumeVSAvoidcell degradation

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies this principle by coating active material particles with a flexible carbon-containing polymer shell that can accommodate volume changes during lithium insertion and extraction. The shell acts as a protective layer that prevents mechanical degradation while allowing the high-capacity active materials to expand and contract without causing cell degradation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates composite structures by combining high-capacity active materials (silicon, germanium, tin, metal fluorides) with a carbon-containing polymer matrix. This composite approach allows the active materials to provide high volumetric capacity while the polymer matrix provides mechanical stability and prevents degradation during cycling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This design enhances the stability and performance of battery electrodes by accommodating volume changes, maintaining electrical connectivity, and preventing degradation, thereby improving the cycle life and energy density of batteries.

Implementation Method 1

a porous, electrically-conductive scaffolding matrix material, where the active material is disposed within the pores of the matrix, allowing for volume changes without causing composite particle fractures

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPorosity: Porosity

Implementation Method 2

These powders exhibit electrochemical reactions during battery charging or discharging

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrochemical reactions:

Data Source

PatentUS11855280B2Nanocomposite battery electrode particles with changing properties

Publication Date: 2023.12.26 SILA NANOTECHNOLOGIES INC

AI summary

Battery electrode compositions and methods of fabrication are provided that utilize composite particles. Each of the composite particles may comprise, for example, a high-capacity active material and a porous, electrically-conductive scaffolding matrix material. The active material may store and release ions during battery operation, and may exhibit (i) a specific capacity of at least 220 mAh/g as a cathode active material or (ii) a specific capacity of at least 400 mAh/g as an anode active material. The active material may be disposed in the pores of the scaffolding matrix material. According to various designs, each composite particle may exhibit at least one material property that changes from the center to the perimeter of the scaffolding matrix material.